Alake Cautions Governors against Interfering In Mining Activities

Solid Mineral Development Minister, Dele Alake, has cautioned the state governors against interfering in the mining activities in their respective states.

He expressed concern over some of the state governors who imposed a ban on mining activities in their areas.

Alake spoke on the issue in Abuja on Wednesday during a news conference for the forthcoming annual mining week 2023 coming up between October 16 and 18, 2023.

The minister explained that governors or state government was not empowered by the constitution to intervene in the mining activities. This he said was because mining activities nationwide was vested on the federal government by the constitution.

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Alake, however, said that any state government interested in mining could set up a special purpose vehicle and apply for a mining license from his ministry.

The statement reads, “The states’ ban on mining activities across the country is a point that is really sore. And it’s a constitutional matter.

“I want to use this opportunity to get to the entire Nigerian public that no state, and I repeat, no state, has the authority to interfere in mining operations. No state has the authority and it is not it’s a no-brainer. It’s a constitutional matter.

“Mining belongs exclusively in the purview of the Federal Government, according to the Constitution. It is in the exclusive legislative list. It is not in the residual. It’s in the exclusive legislative list. Every item on the exclusive legislative list belongs to the Federal Government.”